The family of Jacob Blake, the man shot seven times by US officers in front of his children, has told Sky News how the traumatised youngsters scream in fear at the sight of a police car.
Jacob Blake Snr said: “It’s burning their little minds. One of them, who’s eight – his question constantly is: ‘Papa, why did they shoot my dad so many times?’
“And I say: ‘Son, they shouldn’t have shot your daddy at all’.”
Jacob Blake was shot by police on 23 August. Pic: @AttorneyCrump/ Twitter
“We were on the highway going to my daughter’s house and he saw a police car and he just started screaming,” he added.
“I said: ‘What is going on in the backseat?’ And his older brother said he saw a police car.”
Jacob Blake Jnr remains in hospital, paralysed from the waist down.
He was shot by officer Rusten Sheskey after police were called to an address in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Demonstrators take part in a protest following the shooting
His father said he learned his son had been shot after receiving a phone call and, shortly afterwards, he watched video of the shooting which had been posted on the internet.
He said: “Seeing the man pull my son, his shirt.
“Continuing to fire when he had his shirt in his hand. When he began to shoot, he kept shooting.
“Because one shot, you’re like ‘okay well he was overzealous. Two shots, you start wondering. By the third shot you know he’s trying to kill him.”
Video shows moments before shooting
Jacob’s sister Letetra Widman added: “I just couldn’t believe what I was watching on the video because I’ve seen it so many times but it was my blood brother that it happened to.
“I am angry and disgusted and anybody who isn’t angry, to some degree, or disgusted by the actions that they gave in that video – you need to examine yourself, examine your heart.”
Officer Rusten Sheskey has been placed on administrative leave Pic: Kenosha Police Department
“I almost feel guilty that Jacob is getting so much attention,” she added.
“I’ve learned so many names of so many other people that has this has happened to, and they didn’t get so much attention. So it’s a bittersweet feeling because I’m glad that there’s an opportunity to speak out about it.”
The family also revealed that the incident on 23 August is not the only time Jacob Blake survived a multiple shooting.
In July 2016, he was shot three times as the victim of an attempted robbery.